Public schools must provide immediate access, services, and support to students experiencing homelessness. A homeless student is allowed to enroll in one of the following 3 options:

• The school the student last attended. This is called the student’s “school of origin,"
• The school attended when the student was last permanently housed. This is called the student’s “school of origin”, or
• The school housed children in the same area are eligible to attend. This is called “attendance area school."

Sometimes a homeless student can attend the district as a homeless student and as a resident of the area. Homeless students don’t have to reside in the district to attend their school of origin. A homeless student might attend their school of origin. They are entitled to receive transportation services to and from school. This applies to school-related activities.

Schools must allow a homeless student to enroll in school right away. They do not need the records or documents needed for school enrollment. (e.g., birth certificates, school transcripts, immunization records).  The school should contact the previous school to obtain school records. The school may ask for an address or phone number to reach you. The school must provide the child with low-cost or free medical referrals. This is to get any necessary immunizations or physicals.

Homeless students are those who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes students in the following situations:

• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds
• Living in an emergency or transitional shelter
• Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
• Living in a primary night time residence not designed as a regular sleeping area for human beings (i.e., a storage unit)
• Abandoned in hospitals
• Migratory children who live in any of the above situations

You may need to enroll your child in a new school. It is helpful to bring a letter from the shelter on the shelter's letterhead. It should say that your child is staying there.. If you are staying with relatives or in a motel, bring a letter from your relative or social worker. It should state where you and your child are living. No school can refuse to admit your child because you do not have these letters.

Youth or students not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, do not need an adult to enroll themselves in school.

Every school district has a designated homeless liaison. This staff person works with families experiencing homelessness. You can always contact this person if you feel that you are not getting the help that you need.

You can find the complete rules for homeless students by reading the Policy of the Illinois State Board of Education on the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.  

School districts are required by law to remove barriers to enrollment, attendance, retention and success for children experiencing homelessness. These rights also apply to preschool age children.